Starry starry night

One of the joys of Knitscene magazine is the infinitely wearable projects. Just like their sister publication Interweave Knits the designs frequently have an interesting construction.

Currently on the needles is the Camellia Shrug by Cassie Miller. I am knitting this for a 7yr old so needless to say there have been some minor modifications going on. The lace panel in the back starts off on dpns, then progressing to circs when sufficient sts. It really is the simplest of constructions, & a total joy to knit. We are currently just checking for sleeve length requests...

Summer Highlighted

Four Score & Some More

Gralphie's going to be 80,

It is quite old.

We've knitted him some socks,

Cos' he gets so cold!

For the longest time

Growing up in Yorkshire I like to say what I see, frequently I look at my daughter chattering & think the acorn doesn't fall far from the oak. The ability to rein it in, is of course there but not as a default setting. For the love of wool I am not sure how I have managed to keep a lid on this one.

The great-beyond-great idea of Gerard at IKnit London for a twist on a Sock Club has resulted in IKL (not just)Sock Club. Brilliantly you will recieve not just bespoke dyed yarn & a sock pattern, but another non-sock pattern too. As my local yarn store, I simply think IKnit is great. It is my go to store for my knitterly needs. So it with even more exciting for me that Gerard chose two of my patterns for the opening month. Check out the IKnit website for more details on the club. I have just come home from the Launch party where I met many other lovely fellow (not just) Sock Club members, thank you for your lovely comments on the patterns. I am so looking forward to what the future months have in store for us all. In the meantime hope you enjoy Tantalus & Ambience.

All present & correct

To me blocking a shawl is like standing to attention on parade. Every little detail has to be just right, tweaked so it looks it looks the best possible. Uniformity, you bet. So it is time for a passing out parade. Solan is off the needles, rinsed & blocked.

Needles: 3.75mm for cast on, & 2.25mm for the knitting.

Pattern: Solan from Shetland trader by Gudrun Johnston.

ng>Yarn: Madeline Tosh - Tosh Sock; Colourways - Mrs Taylor (lace), Isadora (stocking st).

Modifications: None, the pattern is a delight to knit.

There were two errors in the lace chart, what a joy to recieve an e-book update via Rav. Nonething less than you would expect from the excellence that is Gudrun. Designers like this just make you want to cast on another of their projects. Which is handy as that little Sheetland Trader book is a sure fire winner with me.

lil' pink

Think I need another shawl. Let's opt for a different colour scheme, something that will go with a summer-ish feel. Oh yes, I have some left over madeline tosh sock yarn from another project. Perfect.

I was after a shawl project with a little lace but something infinitely pick up & put downable. That is, a project without need for a gazillion stitch markers, a project with a memorable pattern, light on the nupp count or even nupp free. Then I remembered the shawl in Gudrun's Shetland Trader, & it was exactly right.

Gauge was playing a game of chase with this one. After much swatching I opted to cast on with 3.75mm, & use 2.25mm. I feel it's coming up good. With a yarn hesitation coming on: will there be enough, am I cutting it close, I made the decision to knit the stockinette in a contrast colour. Now resulting in a shawl which is not so pink & summery but quite possibly more wearable within the reality of my wardrobe. Here's the current state of play: unblocked action, on the needles, well & truely in progress.

Eve

More often than not knitting is all about the detail: yarn, pattern, stitch definition, gauge. Other times all that is required is the process, slipping into a comfortable rhythm with a project. I like a level of identity too, where was I when I was knitting this project. So there are projects that reboot my memory of people, places, notable events. With this in mind, today the decision is what will I knit whilst watching the Royal Wedding?